Nursing home residents across Wisconsin start casting ballots
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Starting Monday, Oct. 14, special voting deputies will help people in nursing homes and similar care facilities cast a vote in the Nov. 5 election.
The special voting deputies were at the River Park Apartments in Shorewood Monday afternoon, the senior living facility was the source of a controversy over a voter registration event earlier this month.
CBS 58 was in contact with several city clerks across Milwaukee and Waukesha counties who told us their nursing home and care facility schedule is published on their city's website.
While voting in nursing homes has been the source of claims of voter fraud, Shorewood City Clerk Toya Harrell calls this process safe, smooth, and secure.
"Special voting deputies are here to assist with registration, and they can also assist them with voting, but they can't tell them who to vote for that's against the law," Harrell said. "When the ballots are cast, just like if you do in-person absentee voting, it's sealed, it's signed, it's witnessed, and it's secured in a blue box that we take back to the village hall."
In a statement, Brookfield City Clerk Michelle Luedtke told CBS58 that the rules for poll observers for absentee voting in nursing homes differ from polling places on election day:
"Keep in mind, WI SS 6.875(7) One observer from each of the 2 recognized political parties whose candidate for governor or president received the greatest number of votes in the municipality at the most recent general election may accompany the deputies to each home or facility where absentee voting will take place under this section. The observers may observe the process of absentee ballot distribution in the common areas of the home or facility. Each party wishing to have an observer present shall submit the name of the observer to the clerk or board of election commissioners no later than the close of business on the last business day prior to the visit.
This means not everyone can come and watch in a care facility. Only those who meet the criteria above. On election day, anyone can observe. They do not need to be part of a political party."
The City of Waukesha has 20 special voting deputies to service eight locations over the next two weeks, according to Interim Clerk Linda Gourdoux. Other clerks told us they have plenty of SVD's to visit the eligible facilities in their municipality.
More information on voting in residential care facilities can be found on the Wisconsin Elections Commission website HERE.